Electric-circuit controller



March 31, 1931. F w NoFFs 1,798,895

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Original Filed Aug- 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. W. NOFFS ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER March 31, 1931.

Original Filed Aug. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Original application filed August 4, 1928, Serial No. 287,567. Divided and this application filed .Tune 19,

1929. Serial This invention relates to improvements in electric circuit controllersand is a division of my application Serial Number 297,567, 'tiled August 4, 1928, for signalling apparatus for aeroplanes or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a controlling or switching mechanism for independently7 controlling a pluralitv of electric signalling circuits, altho 1o the invention is not limited particularly to signalling circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a controlling mechanism the individual switch members of which can be easily operated and which are arranged in compact relation in a suitable receptacle which may be mounted at a convenient position with respect to the operator, such as in the cockpit of an aeroplane.

Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specifications and accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a controller with the cover of the enclosure removed.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken in line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken in line of Fig. 1.

F ig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the switch slide members.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a slide member taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a broken plan view of the control. box cover.

Fig. 11 is a broken perspective view illustrating one section of the switch or controller construction in which operates a movable switch member illustrated in Fig. 8.

The signal controller above referred to by which the operator, such as an aviator controls the various signals above mentioned comprisesa casing 1() of any suitable material and which may be mounted in a convenient position in the cockpit or other suitable place. The controller comprises an inner member indicated generally by the numeral 11 of a size to iit within the casing 10. The member 11 may be of one piece of bakelite or other material, the recesses and channels hereinafter described being cut therein or molded,

tributor plate 16, 17, each provided with the required number of contact screws 18, from which extend conductors to the various stationary switch members.

Extending parallel with the channel 12 are the channels 19, 20 and transversely of the member 11A are additional channels 21, five in number, in the present embodiment of the invention. The channel 12 and the intersecting channels 21 divide the member 11 into twelve sections indicated generally by the letters a to Z respectively. As these sections are identical one only will be described specifically. A section is shown in perspective in Fig. 11 and comprises two spaced parallel upright Walls 22, 22 which are beveled at the lower portions of their inner faces as shown. These walls have a pair of recesses therein, indicated at 23, 23, 24, 24, a post 25, being disposed between each pair of recesses 23, 24. An angular metal conductor 26, is mounted on the inward portion of the wall 22 and extends downwardly into the channel 23 and is secured in position by a bolt 27 as illustrated in Fig. 7. A similar conductor 28 is secured to the post 25 by a screw 29 and extends into the channel 24. Each conductor 26, 28 has a horizontally projecting tubular contact 30, 31 secured thereto and hereinafter further referred to. The conductors 26 have a number of contact screws 32 on the top thereof for attaching thereto the various wires which pass through the adjacent transverse channels 21 to the main longitudinal channel 12,

thence through the opening 13 to the respective lamps controlled by the switch member. An additional contact screw is provided on each conductor `26for a pilot light hereinafter refer 1ed to. The opposite wall of the unit Ahas vsimilar conductors, contact screws and wires which constitute, the return circuit from the various lamps controlled by the 'particular switch being described.

To thefcontact scre'ws32 are-attached wires 33 which pass through channels 21 to'theouter channels 13a, thence into contact with the respective'distributor plates 16, 17 which, as above mentioned, are connected by wires 14 with a'battery (not shown). This arrangement of wiresis suggested by the dotted lines o of unit J of Fig. 1, the remaining wires being omitted for the salte of clea'rnes's. It will thus be seen that when the conductors 26, 28

of a unit are bridged, current will flow to the respective lamps 'controlled by such unit.

For bridging the said conductors 26, 28 selectively I rhave .provided a slide member shown in enlarged perspective in IT ig. 8. The slide is of insulating material and comprises a body 34 'the lowerA portionsof the e side walls of which are flared 'slightly 'to provide a dovetail sliding fit with the `tapered portions of the walls 22 ofthe unit. A stop 34a is positioned between the walls 22 to limit the movement'of the slide in one'direc- 5 tion, the stop being held in position by a screw 34?). I-Ioused intheslide 3e are "bridgingmembers 35, secured in position by screws.

The outwardly extending arms 36 of the members are provided'on corresponding faces Ywith `contactvpins 37 which are arranged to frictionally seat in the -tubular membersV 30, 31 of the conductors 26, 28 lrespectively when the slide is moved Yinto circuit closing position. The slide is provided with an operating handle 38 by means of which Ythe Apilot can operate the slide. The handles project through openings 39 vin the cover() of the casing 10.

lIn association with each switch Yunit there o is provided a ypilot lamp 41 oneof which Vis illustrated in Fig. 2, the lamp being positioned in a socket carried in a recess 4t2. The cover e0 has lenses 43 for each of the pilot lamps, which lenses preferably Vare `colored to correspond with the colors of the respective signal lamps. Y

VBy the construction described it will be seen that where the `dev'ice'is used for controlling a plurality of signalling lamps of an aeroplane, the pilot byV moving any particular slide member 34 can energize the respective signals, such as for rightor left turn, landing, various conditions of the'vehicle, direction of flight, etc. Upon the actuation of a slide, the pilot light of such circuit will also that various changes may be made without departing fromrthe `spirit of the invention,

and therefore I do not wish to be restricted to vthe ls pecific'embodiment of the improvements herein shown and described except where limitations thereto appear in the Aappended'claims I claim :i y

1. vSwitch mechanism for controlling a number of circuits comprising a plurality of switch units, each unit comprising a stationary switch member having a pair of spaced walls defining a channel therebetween, eachwall having a contact member theron forming a pair of terminals for one or more circuits, a second pair of terminals, one on each of said walls, said last named terminals being connected with a source of current, and a manually operable switch memberslidable in said channel for bridging the terminals on each wall.

2. Switch mechanism for controlling a number of circuits comprising a plurality of f i switch units,'each comprising a stationary member comprising aV pair of walls and a manually movable member slidable between said walls, a pair of circuit terminals disposed in opposite relation one on each wall,

`a second .pair of oppositely disposed terminals'on said walls,said last named terminals being adapted for'connection with a source of current, each of said terminals being proc vided with a tubular contact member, said sliding member havingva pair of bridging members thereon Aeach provided with a ypinlike projection adapted to frictionally seat in one of saidtubular contacts when said slidu ing member is moved to circuit closing position.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a Ipair of spaced walls each having two upstanding spaced portions on the top thereof, metal terminal members one secured to each of said "f por-tions and extending down one face thereof, and a slide member confined between said walls, said slide member having a pair of metal bridging memberssecured thereto each provided-with laterally extendingportio'ns adapted to contact one with each ofthe downwardly extending portions of said terminals when vsaid slide member is in circuit closing position.` Y

Il. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of spaced walls eachY having two upstanding spaced portions onthe top thereof, metal terminal members one secured to each of said portions and extending down one face thereof, anda slidemembe'r confined between said name.

FRED W. NOFFS. 

